The bulls consolidated their control of stock market Thursday lifting the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-share Index by 0.84 per cent to close at 20,797.81 in the process.

After five days of playing second fiddle to the bears, the bulls took over control of the market on Wednesday. On the day of their return, the index appreciated by 0.13 per cent.

However, the market witnessed a further growth as more equities added value following the activities of bargain hunters. Twenty-four equities appreciated compared with 11 that lost value.

Apart from lifting the index, the bulls equally boosted the market capitalisation of equities by N55 billion, rising from N6.5trillion to close at N6.555 trillion.

Highly capitalised equities such as Dangote Cement Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc were among the price gainers.

NewGold Exchange Traded Fund recorded the highest price gain of N75 to close at N2, 6660 per share. Dangote Cement Plc chalked up N2.02 to close at N120 per share.

Unilever Nigeria Plc and First Bank garnered N1.48 and N0.45 to be at N31.08 and N9.61 respectively. Other top price gainers included: Ashaka Cement Plc (N0.41); Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (N0.31); Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (N0.30); Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (N0.22); International Breweries Plc (N0.18) and Diamond Bank Plc (N0.11).

Conversely, Cadbury Nigeria Plc led the price losers with N0.46, trailed by Presco Plc, which lost N0.43 per share. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc declined by N0.35 and N0.10 in that order.

Other top 10 price losers included: Cutix Plc, Skye Bank Plc (N0.07 apiece); Fidson Healthcare Plc (N0.04); Goldlink Insurance Plc(N0.03); C & I Insurance Plc (N0.02) and Continental Reinsurance Plc (N0.02).

Meanwhile, investors traded 196.961 million shares valued at N2.186 billion traded in 2,700 deals, compared with 420.114 million shares worth N2.053 billion traded in 3,323 deals the previous day.

Banks equities remained the most patronised, accounting for 158.316 million shares valued at N1.277 billion exchanged in 1,602 deals. Zenith Bank Plc attracted the highest patronage of 61.361 million shares valued at N736.318 million traded in 219 deals.

Zenith Bank Plc's board of directors is expected to meet on Monday and will deliberate on the bank's audited financial statements for 2011 with the view of recommending a dividend to shareholders for the year.